Health Care

If asked to press a three-pound dumbbell overhead, it’s likely that many of us would be able to do so with relative ease. Now, imagine being asked to pause that overhead press at the top and hold it there for an hour or two. Or, imagine doing the same overhead press, then simultaneously handed a wrench, light bulb, cell phone and a large cup of coffee to hold. Sounds a bit ridiculous, doesn’t it? Stress is very much the same way. We’re constantly dealing with ongoing stressors (often for more than just an hour or two), and many of us are juggling constant demands from multiple areas of life: personal relationships, parenting, family and work. From a physiological standpoint, we’re built to withstand stressors to a degree and for a certain amount of time. Stress can become problematic, however, when it’s chronic and coming at you simultaneously from several directions. From my experience as a dietitian, I’ve found that those who consistently keep food and symptom journals repeat...

Protect Your Teeth From Holiday Stress: Avoid the Seasonal Grind The holiday season is a time of year that comes with many things: visits from loved ones, weekly parties, a multitude of shopping trips, long hours spent in the kitchen, and stress-induced bruxism. Stress isn’t always a bad thing; in fact it can even be good in small doses. It can spur excitement, joy, and eager anticipation, and it can even function as that extra bit of motivation that you need to get everything on your to-do list done. Even when the outcome of the stress you are experiencing is positive, the effects it has on you physically can be negative. What Is Bruxism? The gradual onset of mild to moderate head and neck aches, jaw pain, and sensitive teeth can signal that stress is beginning to take a toll and that you might be suffering from a condition called bruxism. Bruxism is a condition in which you clench and grind your teeth throughout the day and night. The clenching and grinding can become s...